While medal-winning athletes who bring glory to the state with their success at international tournaments return home to assurances of cash rewards and government jobs, very few have actually seen those promises materialise. In an attempt to beat back criticism and ensure that the authorities are able to follow through on their pledges to sportsmen, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare is proposing that a special Class I post be instated in the state government for international champions.

Shooter Ayonika Paul and weightlifter Chandrakant Mali (Below) are amongst the recent medal-winners at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games who could be considered for the new Class I post

According to an existing Government Resolution (GR), any athlete who wins a gold medal at international events is eligible for a Class I or II government job. However, the GR has run into strong criticism in the past, because several athletes have had to run pillar to post to get their promised jobs, to no avail. Those sportsmen who were appointed were later criticised for not being able to devote any time to their jobs. “Arjuna award-recipients Virdhawal Khade and Pankaj Shirsat were appointed as Tehsildar (Thane) and Deputy Superintendent of Police respectively. However, they have not been able to give much time to their services,” said Sports and Youth Welfare Department Deputy Director, B N Mote.